For well over a century, the mine has been a significant
weapon system in naval combat. In the American Civil War, the only monitor lost
to confederate activity was the USS Tecumseh, lost at the Battle of Mobile Bay,
when she struck a mine. In World War One the only British battleship lost
because of the activity of the German fleet was HMS Audacious, lost in 1914,
when she struck a mine. Mine warfare continues to be a favored weapon system
used by powers with minimal naval strength. Its attraction is cost. It’s a
cheap system that promises to attrit the stronger naval power. In the Gulf War
of 1990-1991, Iraq’s mines posed the greatest threat to coalition naval
forces. Mine warfare ships lack the glamour of larger combatants but provide an
essential ability for any modern naval force. Modern craft designed for mine
warfare a very specialized.

European naval powers have occupied a leading place in the
development of mine warfare ships. The French have developed the Tripartite
Class of minehunters, built in France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Italy developed its own design for a minehunter/minesweeper. The first of four Lerici
Class minehunters was ordered by the Italian Navy in April 1978. The four ships
in the class were built by Intermarine of Sarzana, were laid down from 1982 to
April 1985 and were all in service by December 1985. Sisters were built for
Nigeria and Malaysia.

The Lerici Class
proved to be very successful. The follow on Gaeta
Class was a direct development of the Lerici.
Gaeta, longer, beamier and heavier than Lerici, was
laid down in August 1988 and was in service by 1993. Seven more sisters have
joined her. Six other sisters have been built for the Royal Australian Navy as
the Huon Class, as a result of the Gaeta
design winning the RAN design competition, and are still going into service. The
6th minehunter, HMAS Yarra is scheduled to go into
service in 2002.

The Lerici inspired
another, larger design for the United States Navy. The twelve Osprey
Class, coastal minehunters are the largest and heaviest of the three related
designs. Twenty –three feet longer and over 300 tons heavier than the original
Lerici, the Ospreys, named after birds, entered
service between 1993 and 1998. Not surprisingly, given their mission, all three
classes are designed to minimize their magnetic signature with glass reinforced,
plastic hulls. These ships are designed for precise maneuvering and are given
bow thrusters. Since they operate with a component of divers and small
submersibles, they are accordingly equipped with decompression chambers. (History
and Class statistics from Combat Fleets of the
World, 1998-1999, Compiled by
A.D.Baker, III)

RESIN CASTING
As usual, Regia Marina provides a product with outstanding castings. With
this kit Regia Marina gives you three kits in one box. You get one Lerici,
one Gaeta and one Osprey.
The similarities as well as the differences among the three classes are obvious
with the three models. These three small gems are easy to build. Each one has
three main components (hull, superstructure and mast) and various small resin
detail fittings. The quality is uniformly high with minute detail cast with
every part. Only the largest of the deck fittings are represented by the smaller
resin fittings. Most detail is cast integral to the hull and superstructure. The
masts are very finely cast, so take care in removing them from the runner. They
have yardarms and platforms cast as part of the mast. However, no parts were
broken when I received the kit and none were broken during the building. About
the only thing that you have to add are the bridge wing supports and life
canister platform supports, made from stretched sprue.

PHOTO-ETCH
This kit comes with two stainless steel frets of photo-etched parts. Parts
provided are railings, inclined ladders, 20mm Oerlikon cannons for the Lerici
and Gaeta, and anchors. There is more
than enough railing and inclined ladder to outfit all three models. I like the
stainless steel frets provided by Regia Marina. Although marginally more
difficult to cut than brass, I have never encountered any problem in cutting the
Regia Marina product. Since it is stainless steel, this photo-etch is
much more rugged and sturdy than a comparable brass fret. The frets are complete
and there is no need to buy another fret to supplement those provided in the
box. About the only suggestion that I have, is to cut off the stocks of the
anchors, so that the anchors will snugly fit in the hull recesses.

INSTRUCTIONSAs usual, the instructions of Regia Marina need to be analyzed
before assembly. The instructions are back-printed. The front side has the
history and statistics of the ships, with a parts matrix and color guide. The
reverse side has assembly/parts locations with painting and decal placement
guide. Also provided is a back-printed sheet with color photos of ships of the
three classes. Rather than show a picture of each part, Regia Marina
identifies each part by an alpha-numeric designator. The locations for all resin
parts are clearly shown. However, I didn’t find the locations for the inclined
ladders, except for the one on Lerici, from quarter-deck to main deck. I
found it necessary to study photographs of the ships to gage their locations.
Locations seem to be the same on all three classes. One running from
quarter-deck to main deck on the starboard side and one from the main deck to 01
deck on the starboard side of the stack. This was the only significant problem
that I encountered in the instructions.

VERDICTRegia Marina again provides unusual subject matter produced to extremely
fine standards. To make this kit even more unusual, are the inclusion of three
different models, each one of the same exacting quality. This kit provides
everything that you look for in an enjoyable build(s) and perhaps a little bit
more.